Chicago’s Historical Moments on July 28

World War I Begins

On July 28, 1914, the Chicago Tribune reported heightened excitement in Chicago’s foreign communities due to impending war overseas. By the time the newspaper circulated, Austria-Hungary had invaded Serbia, marking the start of World War I.

Jimmy Ryan’s Baseball Achievement

In 1888, Jimmy Ryan of the Chicago Cubs hit for the cycle against the Detroit Black Sox. His impressive performance included four hits out of six at-bats, earning him an average of .833. Ryan repeated this feat on July 1, 1891, against Cleveland.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Elephant Tragedy

In 1942, the elephant known as Deed-a-Day at Lincoln Park Zoo died, having suffered from a suspected stomach ailment. Postmortem findings revealed she died from consuming trash fed to her by visitors.

Illinois Legal Milestone

In 1961, Governor Otto Kerner signed legislation that introduced a new criminal code, leading Illinois to become the first state to repeal its sodomy law. This change took effect on January 1, 1962.

White Sox’s Combined No-Hitter

In 1976, Francisco Barrios and Blue Moon Odom achieved the only combined no-hitter in Chicago White Sox history. The team has a total of 20 no-hitters, including three perfect games since 1902.

Dick Butkus Honored

In 1979, Dick Butkus, a Chicago Bears linebacker known for his toughness, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Butkus played nine seasons for the Bears and was recognized frequently for his outstanding performance.

ChicagoFest Boycott

In 1982, following Mayor Jane Byrne’s appointment of three white members to the Chicago Housing Authority board, Rev. Jesse Jackson called for a boycott of ChicagoFest. Stevie Wonder withdrew from the event in support of the protest.

Brian Dugan Confession

In 2009, serial killer Brian Dugan confessed to the 1983 murder of Jeanine Nicarico. Originally sentenced to death, his punishment was commuted to life imprisonment after Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.